Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-06-04

svho Having Become widows Now Wear the
Weeds In His Honor.

Weeds In His Honor.
Pariy letter in Chicago Tribune.
The young king OLudwig Of Bavsris) was
then at the height OF his romantic fame. His
ideally handsome likeness was to be seen
every where, and every where you heard talk
of his poetic melancholy, his romantic spirit
aud his confirmed celibscy. Naturally be
became An object of intense interest to senti-
mental young ladies' Presently, among the
other absurd tales that were told OF him,
there went abroad the story that he spent
most Of his time in wandering about his
Kingdom in disguise. He haunted shady
lanes and romantic spots, seeking for some
iair maiden who should be his chosen bride
Well, this silly tale was believed, and set
thousands OF hearts to tlutterln Z. Each maiden
wondered II sne would be his choice II he
chanced to meet her under the lime trees.
And she besitated to plight her uoth 10 her
village lover until she should have had
chance to meet the king.
SO 1t come TO pass that in the village OF
Bertoldshoien, In the romantic mountain re-
gion OF Southern Bavaria, the usidens
formed themselves into u sort Of sister hood.
They pledged themselves to each other not
to marry until they were sure the king had
passed them by. Each WAS 10 wear his like
ness constantly next her bosom, and escn
was to choose for herself u secret bower
where at eventide she should await his CON-
ing. A more foolish scheme, probably, never
WAS devised by the silly brains oil love sick
schoolgirls. But more than score OF Bsr-
toidshotten maidens entered into It with the
Zeal and devotion Oi nuns. The lame OF this
slsterhOOd spread to other villages, to towns
and cities-nsy, the Munich itself Rustic
wenches and the petted beauties OF princely
palaces alike caught the mad disease. With
III year not less than 10 900 young women,
all through Bavaria, had taken upon them
selves the "vows OF Ludwig" aud were
waiting for their King.
In time many OF these girls Imagined they
had been seen and passed BY the king and,
thus freed from their vows, accepted hum oler
husbands. Others grew tired OF wai,ing and
broke their vows Still others waited and
waited in vain, until all other suit ~ had
passed them by and they are waiting still
and will be waiting all their lives. Bat as
the ranks OF the original sisterhOod were
thinned new recruits were added, aud the
"brides OF Ludwig" were still counted by
thousands. 1t Is estimated that there were
no less than 900 Of them at the time OF his
suicide. When the news OF that tragedy be-
came known they forth with put on mourn
ing and called themselves "Ihe widows Of
Ludwig" Many OF them took solemn vows
OF life long celioacy as token oil faithful
ness 10 his memory.
Among these latter two OF the most devoted
were tho young baronesses OF Munich. They
constantly wore the deepest mourning, 50
ciuoed themselves from all social pleasures,
snd drove themselves into confirmed meisn.
choiy. Every week they went TO Starn berg
anu threw garlSnds OF flowers into the y ater
~ the spot where the king was drowned,
rihaliy they determined 10 share his fate
ihey arfayed themselves a. briaes even To
oonning wells and orange blossoms, rowsd
Out INTO the lake to the spot where he WAS
drowned and threw thelnselyss into ths
water. Their bodies were found next dav
ciAspeo IN each others arms, and with nor
traits OF the mad king next their hearts,